The news comes one week after Jeff Zucker started as CNN’s new president. Zucker, who was formerly NBC’s president and chief executive, reportedly planned to start focusing on O’Brien’s show after assuming his new role.

In a Q&A last month, The New York Times’ Andrew Goldman asked O’Brien if she was scared about the changes Zucker could make to “Starting Point.” “Not at all,” she said. “He was my boss years ago when I worked at the ‘Today’ show. I’m absolutely thrilled to have him back.”
When asked about reports that Zucker was thinking of moving Erin Burnett from evenings to mornings, O’Brien responded: “Listen, I have been doing this gig for a while. People go crazy with speculation every time there’s a shift in leadership. I can’t comment on every rumor, but so far I’ve read reports on me, Anderson, Piers, Ann Curry and Erin Burnett, and all that’s clear to me is that somebody’s busy dialing Page Six.”

O’Brien told TVNewser’s Gail Shister last month that she “longs to be on a team that strategizes how to win,” and that she has looked forward to working with Zucker: “He knows news. He knows winning. He knows morning TV.”